The arsonists reportedly left a note calling Luzuko Mngqibisa a "dog of Helen Zille", reported the Sunday Independent.
Mngqibisa told the newspaper he woke to the smell of smoke early on Saturday.
"The first thing I saw was that my clothes, kept in bags near a window, were on fire. I tried to grab what I could, but the flames burnt my fingertips," he said.
"I was forced to run outside without anything on."
According to the Sunday Independent, Mngqibisa ran next door to check on his parents, and once he had confirmed they were safe, he called his neighbours for help. They quickly extinguished the fire.
He told the newspaper a broken bottle and fabric doused in petrol were later found inside the shack, and pair of black gloves, smelling of petrol, and a handwritten letter were found outside.
"The letter said: 'we are going to kill you, you dog of Helen Zille', and 'leave our people alone', meaning my attempts to get more DA support in the area," he was quoted as saying.
"They think I'm a traitor because I'm black and support the DA and its leader."
Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut said a case of arson had been opened. – Sapa